The group Americans for Prosperity is asking candidates to sign a five-point promise that includes opposition to the Affordable Care Act.

"Making sure we are keeping government small, cutting taxes, passing right-to-work laws -- popular things that everyone should support regardless of party," said Greg Moore of Americans for Prosperity.

The group is funded by the billionaire Koch brothers, something Democrats were quick to point out.

"What it is is a pledge that is concocted by an out-of-state group headquartered in Virginia funded by out-of-state special interests," said Kathy Sullivan of the New Hampshire Democratic Party.

Despite the criticism, Republican candidates said they would sign the pledge.

"I don't care what the Democrats say about the Koch brothers, their contribution to this country and the conservative movement is second to none," said Andrew Hemingway, Republican candidate for governor.

Hemingway took a swipe at his primary opponent, Walt Havenstein, for not signing the pledge in person.

"When asked a question, we answer," Hemingway said. "From day one, my opponent has done the opposite. Democrats have done this for years. Duck, weave, hide."

Havenstein's campaign responded by saying that Havenstein supports the principles of the AFP pledge and will sign it, he had a previous commitment.

"Executive Councilors Chris Sununu and Joe Kenny also signed and were unable to attend," the campaign said. "Is Andrew criticizing them as well?"

Supporters of the pledge call it an evolved version of the no sales or income tax pledge, but analysts said it illustrates a new trend.

"We're in a period now in American politics where the third parties like the Koch brothers or some on the left can dictate what campaigns will be talking about and campaigning about, not just giving donations," said James Pindell of WMUR Political Scoop.

Americans for Prosperity said it's been operating in New Hampshire since 2004. It said about 200 local state and federal office candidates have signed the group's pledge.

SAYS THEY'RE PLANNING A BIG CELEBRATION FOR HER HOMECOMING TOMORROW. COMMITMENT 2014 NOW, AND CONSERVATIVE GROUP AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY FLEXING ITS MUSCLE BY ASKING REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES A SIGN, TO SIGN A PLEDGE ON ISSUES RANGING FROM LOWER TAX TOES SMALLER GOVERNMENT. BUT IT SPARKED A LITTLE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR. WE WILL SAY IN WRITING TODAY, THIS IS WHO WE ARE. IT BOILS DOWN TO A FIVE-POINT PROMISE, INCLUDING AMONG OTHER THINGS THE OPPOSITION TO ALL THINGS OBAMACARE. MAKING SURE WE'RE KEEPING GOVERNMENT SMALL, CUTTING TAXES, POPULAR THINGS LIKE THAT THAT EVERYONE SHOULD SUPPORT, REGARDLESS OF PARTY. ITS PLEDGE IS CRAFTED BY THE CONSERVATIVE GROUP, AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY AND FUNDED BY THE BILLIONAIRE KOCH BROTHERS. IT'S A PLEDGE THAT WAS CONCOCTED BY AN OUT OF STATE GROUP, HEADQUARTERED IN VIRGINIA. I DON'T CARE WHAT THE DEMOCRATS SAY ABOUT THE KOCH BROTHERS, THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THIS COUNTRY AND THE CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT IS SECOND TO NONE. ANDREW HEMINGWAY WAS AMONG THE CANDIDATES TO SIGN THE PLEDGE AND HE ALSO TOOK A SWIPE AT HIS PRIMARY OPPONENT, WALT HAVENSTEIN, FOR NOT BEING THERE IN PERSON TO SIGN IT AS WELL. WHEN ASKED A QUESTION WE ANSWER. FROM DAY ONE MY OPPONENT HAS DONE THE OPPOSITE. THE DEMOCRATS HAVE DONE THIS FOR 10 YEARS. DUCK, WEAVE, HIDE. HAVENSTEIN'S CAMPAIGN RESPONDED BY SAYING WHILE WALT SUPPORTS THE PRINCIPLES OF THE PLEDGE AND WILL SIGN IT, HE HAD A PREVIOUS COMMITMENT, SAYING EXECUTIVE COUNCILORS SNEU YOU AND KENNY WERE ALSO UNABLE TO ATTEND. SOME SAY IT AN EVOLVED VERSION OF THE NO SALES OR INCOME TAX PLEDGE. WE'RE IN A PERIOD IN AMERICAN POLITICS WHERE A THIRD PARTY OR SOMEONE ON THE LEFT CAN DICTATE WHAT CAMPAIGNS WILL BE TALKING ABOUT AND CAMPAIGNING ABOUT, NOT JUST GIVING DONATIONS. AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY SAYS IT'S BEEN OPERATING IN NEW